While planting a St Augustine plug may seem easy at first, this task can be quite deceptive. Having fewer plugs than needed can make your lawn look incomplete and patchy, while having too many may make your lawn overcrowded. Thus, it is extremely important to get that number right!
What is a St Augustine Plug?
A St Augustine plug is a small piece of sod that is cut from mature turf. It is roughly 3 inches by 3 inches and consists of a small square or round piece of sod. Each plug contains the crown, stolons, and roots that spread sideways over time. Thanks to this sideways growth, plugging works. St. Augustine spreads through stolons that creep across the soil surface, rooting at nodes and gradually filling in open spaces. However, you simply can’t expect uniform results as the rate of spread is not consistent. The final results can vary due to several factors such as – sunlight exposure, moisture levels, soil conditions and many more.
Getting the Formula Right
In order to understand the exact number of plugs that you may require, you will need to first understand the spacing. If the spacing is tight, naturally you will require more plugs. Mostly the formula that is used to understand the correct number is:
One square foot equals 144 square inches.
Assuming that the plugs are spaced roughly 12 inches apart, each plug will cover 1 square foot. However, if placed 18 inches apart, each plug will cover 2.25 square feet and if placed 24 inches apart, each plug will cover 4 square feet. To sum up, for a 1,000-square-foot lawn, you will need approximately 1,000 plugs at 12-inch spacing, 445 plugs at 18-inch spacing, and 250 plugs at 24-inch spacing.
The Game of Spacing
Spacing is important because it not only affects the plug count but also determines how long your lawn will look incomplete. St. Augustine plugs spaced 12 inches apart typically achieve full coverage in one growing season. At 18 inches, coverage may take up to two growing seasons. At 24-inch spacing, it can take as long as three seasons. This is of course not taking into consideration other factors like droughts or other extreme conditions.
Knowing Your Plug
It is also important to understand that despite what is said, not all plugs are same. Dsense and mature sod plugs spreads faster than thin ones. If a plug looks dry or sparse, consider using additional plugs to achieve proper coverage. Filling in thin spots early helps the grass spread more evenly and prevents bare areas from becoming long-term weak points.
The Final Count
Although this is one of the most commonly sought answers, there is no single magic number that determines how many plugs you will need. The number of plugs that you will need depends on the combination of a variety of factors. It is important to consider all relevant factors before deciding on the exact number of plugs.
